Southgate retains trust in England youth for bright future
LONDON: England manager Gareth Southgate will continue to select younger players who can adapt better to his tactics and preferred formations as he looks to build on the side’s impressive World Cup showing in Russia.
Southgate, who guided a relatively inexperienced squad to the semi- finals in July, told reporters ahead of Saturday’s Nations League match against Spain that he planned to retain a policy of promoting from England’s youth teams.
“We looked through different players over the last couple of years and decided, because of the way we want to play and the type of players we want to work with, that there are some guys who didn’t fit that model,” Southgate told Sky Sports.
We’re into a fresh cycle of probably not going back to players who have been in before and that we’ve had a good look at. Gareth Southgate, England manager
“We’re into a fresh cycle of probably not going back to players who have been in before and that we’ve had a good look at,” the former England under-21s coach added.
“So the next group that we’re looking at are probably coming t h rough our younger age groups.”
Southgate has also been forced to look for fresher options after the experienced duo of defender Gary Cahill and striker Jamie Vardy ended their international careers last week.
England won the Under- 20 World Cup, the Under-17 World Cup and the Under-19 European Championship last year and Southgate has continually pushed for regular game time for some of those players in the Premier League.
England will be without the injured Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling for the Spain clash as well as the friendly against Switzerland at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on Tuesday.